SPECIAL REPORT: How Government Partner United States Agency For International Development (USAID) To End Tuberculosis By Victor Christopher

By Victor Christopher

Endless coughing for about three weeks, feeling exhausted, high temperature, loss of appetite, and weight loss, when you notice any of these symptoms, TB may be at your doorstep like Amina Abubakar.

Amina, a teenage girl who resides in Fagge Local Government is currently a patient at the Sabo Garba Clinic & Maternity Hospital in Fagge. Amina was coughing helplessly when I visited the hospital’s isolation room where she was being treated.

“I was admitted three days ago. I barely sleep at night before of the cough, and I’m currently feeling feverish”, she said.

Similarly, Binta Muhammad, another resident of Fagge weighs 50kg prior to her ordeal. But after she was diagnosed with skeletal tuberculosis 6 months ago, she is currently weighing 42kg.

But, the good news now is Binta is recuperating after she was placed on 6 months TB treatment courtesy of the State Government, with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through Breakthrough Action Nigeria (BA-N) project.

“Whenever I sleep at night, my mattress will be soaked in my sweat. And, as you can see, I lose a lot of weight because of the disease. I was even stigmatized which makes me feel very bad.

After they confirmed that I had TB, they now placed me on 6 weeks of TB treatment. I left the hospital last week after the Nurse confirm that I’m TB-free again. So, I want to thank the donors for their support”.

10.6 Million Fall Ill With TB Every Year, With 1.6 Million Fatality”.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that most often affects the lungs and is caused by a type of bacteria. It spreads through the air when infected people cough, sneeze, or spit. Babies and children are at higher risk.

In 2021, the World Health Organisation (WHO), says 10.6 million people fall ill with tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. Six million men, 3.4 million women, and 1.2 million children.

It also says 1.6 million people die from TB (including 187 000 people with HIV), making it the world’s top infectious killer disease.

Nigeria is ranked the number 1 TB-burdened country in Africa and 6 worldwide with 467,000 people suffering from TB. However, while a total of 218,000 (47%) people are currently under treatment, 249,000 (53%) are yet to be detected.

Kano Records 8,637 TB Cases Quarterly With 93 Death In 6 Month

A report from the Kano State Ministry of Health indicates that the state is recording 8,637 TB cases per quarter; hence Kano is leading other states with the highest record of TB cases.

The State also records 93 death due to TB in the last 6 months. This explains the worrisome situation of TB disease and the need for timely diagnosis and treatment.

Kano Government And USAID Intervention

However, in 2020, the State Government, partner the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Breakthrough Action Nigeria (BA-N) Project launched a behavioural change campaign to educate residents on the essence of TB testing.

A year later, in 2021, the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Bruli Ulcer Control Program (NTBLCP) launched the TB Unified Campaign tagged “Check am o” to further educate people on the signs and symptoms of TB, and encourage them to get tested if they have any signs or symptoms of the disease.

According to NTBLCP, the goal of the campaign is to increase TB case findings, but many people who are vulnerable to developing active TB on preventive treatment, and proactively prevent further transmission of TB in the communities.

The State Coordinator of Breakthrough Action Nigeria Project, Ahmad Muaz says “We have conducted free TB tests for over 200 thousand people in 2023 and placed 15,000 patients who tested positive to TB on treatment”.

According to Ahmad, “The campaign also informs the people that all TB services are free and are available at health facilities across the State”.

Positive Impact of Intervention

Sani Sharif Sani, a resident of Kurna Asabe in Ungogo Local Government Area of the State is one of the patients who recovered from the deadly disease after the intervention of the BA-N initiative.

“I suffer from this disease for like a year. After the treatment, the Nurse tests my carter and the result shows I’m negative. So, I’m very happy right now”, he adds.

Kano Commemorates The 2023 National TB Testing Week

As the state commemorates the 2023 National TB Testing Week this year, the state government, with its donor partners carried out TB outreach in 53 communities to end the deadly disease.

During my TB monitoring visit to Dugwu, one of the designated testing venues at Ajingi Local Government, over 100 people were queued, eagerly waiting to be examined.

Commenting, the State Program Manager of Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Program, Dr. Ibrahim Aliyu Umar said due to the challenges posed by TB, the State Government has provided 1,346 facilities to halt the further spread of the disease.

Dr. Aliyu further said, “The program would be sustained to ensure that the State is TB-free”.

On his part, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf says anyone who tested positive for TB will be placed on free treatments like how over 8,277 patients recently benefited.

According to him, “Anyone who tested positive for TB would be treated in the facilities set aside across the State. I am happy to inform you that we placed a total of 8,277 TB patients which represents 96% of the total burden on TB treatment”.

Data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) in April this year puts TB as the 13th leading cause of death and the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19 with 1.6 million people dead in 2021 alone.

This implies that TB kills faster than HIV and AIDS and other life-threatening diseases; hence the need to prioritize diagnosis to aid early detection and timely treatment.

This story is supported by Breakthrough Action Nigeria, a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) dedicated to funding social and behaviour change (SBC) project designed to increase the practice of priority health behaviours in the areas of malaria; maternal, newborn, and child health, including nutrition and tuberculosis.